the way you’ll all be watching a movie in the living room and jack is the first to notice you drifting off, your face tucked into his side. “you tired, bunny? looks like it’s our girl’s bedtime,” he’d coo, cupping the side of your face with his palm. robby would take the hint and turn the tv off, helping jack lead you into the bedroom and getting you tucked under the covers.
the thought of robby nestled behind you with his large palm draped over your belly, the warmth slowly lulling you to sleep. his body engulfing yours like a blanket, providing a warm comfort in the chill of your shared room.
meanwhile jack’s facing you, lightly stroking your cheek with his thumb as he whispers to you how beautiful u are, how safe they’ll keep you while you sleep. he’ll move his hand downwards to rest on your waist while you drape your leg over his body, your eyes getting droopier by the second. “that’s it, sweet girl, don’t worry. we’ve got you. i promise.”
always falling asleep peacefully knowing the two of them would protect your through anything, care for you in every circumstance, even in your sleep :(
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Sugar!Daddy Rabbot x fem!reader (kind of) hurt/comfort FLUFF!
Based on: Where your friends are worried about your relationship
Notes: Musical theme continues! Love Grows where my rosemary goes was musical vibe of this. I feel like there’s more i could have written but I’m uhhhh lazy! But there might be some begging for forgiveness in bed 👀 Enjoy! Gif isn’t mine
“Have fun, baby!” Jack said, pressing a kiss to your temple since your lip stain was still drying and while entertaining, he didn’t want to walk into the Pitt wearing it himself. You slid out of the truck and leaned through the open window.
“I’ll call an Uber home so Robby doesn’t have to wake back up,” you reminded.
“You know he’s going to stay up till you’re home anyway,” Jack laughed, “But sure. I will remind him. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” He winked at you as he drove away.
“So I can jump out of an airplane?” You asked into thin air as you crossed the sidewalk to one of your favorite spots in the city. A handful of your friends from college were back in town for the weekend and it was nostalgia you wish you could bottle. It had been a careful breach of the idea of you dating two older men, showing your friends pictures and telling them about your work with PTMC’s Street Team. They were happy for you, but you knew something was lingering. They were the people closest to you after Robby and Jack and you could read them like books.
“Hi girl!” You nearly jumped out of your skin when Madison spoke from next to you.
“Hi! God you scared me,” you laughed, giving her a hug. Your two other friends were already seated and had already ordered drinks for all four of you.
“Last day in town! Let’s make it a good night,” Jordan laughed, lifting his glass to cheers with all of you.
“Not too good,” Madison lamented, “We still have to make it to the airport in the morning.”
It took a couple of drinks and well into your entrees arriving before Paloma brought your boys up.
“You look so happy, honey,” she started, “We were just chatting after brunch on the way back to the hotel... We’re just a little worried.” The question didn’t catch you off guard, but it still stung a little bit. The idea that Jack and Robby were something to worry about and not a blessing you didn’t deserve.
“I am happy! What are you guys worried about?” You were trying not to sound defensive, and took a long sip of your drink, alcohol burning the back of your throat while they glanced at one another. Madison spoke up next, squeezing your elbow to remind you that they were your friends and they were just looking out for you.
“We’ve all had relationships before where it felt hard to get out of, but our partners were taking advantage of us and we appreciated it when the group checked in. We’re just worried-”
“You stay at home all day and you cook and clean and you’re financially reliant on them and we’re worried they want you to be a trad wife,” Jordan blurted, a flush of embarrassment covering his face when he finished, and he immediately started to apologize. You warded off the apology, reaching over the table and grabbing one of Jordan’s waving hands.
“Oh god, guys, I know. And I appreciate that you all are looking out for me. But it’s really really not like that. I do it because I want to take care of them. I have a perfectly fulfilling career and it’s everything I always joked about in college! Finding a rich guy who would pay for everything so I could focus on helping people. The only difference is I found two guys. I wish they could have gotten some time off this weekend so you could really get to know them, and next reunion I will make sure they do, but I promise you this is not a trad wife,” you couldn’t help but giggle over the idea, “situation. And I promise that I will tell you guys if something starts to go wrong.”
You could tell they weren’t convinced even after their sighed ‘alrights’ and ‘we trust you’s. By the time dessert rolled around you had moved well into other topics of discussion, but you could feel it lingering.
“Will it make you guys feel better if I stop helping out around the house for a few weeks and prove to you guys that they don’t care?” Your three friends looked at each other and in silent agreement, all nodded.
Robby had, thankfully, fallen asleep on the couch waiting for you to tell him to come pick you up, so when you got dropped off in front of the two story townhouse, the lights were still on. You tip-toed into the living room only to find all six foot one of your partner draped across the couch. There were remnants of the dinner Jack had left for him on the coffee table and you instinctively went to pick it up, but reminded yourself of the deal you’d made with your friends. You dropped to your knees next to the couch and gently shook Robby. He woke with a start, grabbing your outstretched hand before remembering where he was.
“Hi sweetheart. I was waiting to hear from you.” You kissed him softly.
“I know. I wanted you to rest. Let’s get in bed?” You were a little tipsy and Robby laughed while you tried to take off your shoes standing up. He picked you up and laid you down on the bed, pressing kisses to the inside of each ankle after taking your heeled boots off.
“Did you have fun?” You nodded, telling him about what you four shared and all the drama that Madison’s brother was drumming up in her family. Robby asked about Paloma’s dog as you both cuddled under the sheets, legs tangled and Robby’s head tucked against your shoulder. You scratched his head and told him about the dog, who you constantly showed pictures of to Jack and Robby trying to convince them that you should also have a pet, until you knew Robby was asleep. You could still feel the alcohol burning in your veins so you stayed up, staring at the ceiling, wondering how long it would take for Robby and Jack to say something if you didn’t do the things around the house you normally did. You hadn’t been worried about their reactions when you suggested the idea to your friends, but you had worked a knot into your stomach about it. Suddenly you were worried that they would be upset, that they would kick you out or take back their cards. You fell asleep with the panic spiral running through your mind.
-/-/-/-/-/-
It started out small. You didn’t do the dishes in the morning when Jack stumbled into bed and fell asleep. You didn’t wash their scrubs like you normally would every other day. You didn’t make dinner, leaving it to Jack. You let Robby set out Jack’s morning protein shake instead of doing it yourself. It was funny how quickly both men were able to fall back into the routine without you. The one they had had for decades before they even knew you existed. It was somewhat comforting to know they did take care of each other when you weren’t there, but it did leave a pit in your stomach to know they had to when you were.
And maybe you did a few things, just to stave it off. Checking in on them and running the dishwasher when you noticed it was full. You still went to the grocery store on your way home from meeting with the street team, but you didn’t cook and when they asked what you’d planned to make with the ingredients you’d give them a vague idea and put your headphones back on.
Robby and Jack on the other hand had started to panic by day four. They never expected you to take care of the house all the time, but you always reminded them that you loved to take care of them and it was your way of giving back for all the things they did for you. It was never transactional, but you looked sullen and quiet when they were around, sitting on the couch with a book and barely reading. They were worried about you.
“I’m gonna head in early and see if they need any help. I know they were short staffed,” Jack called into the bedroom. You were jotting things down on a sheet.
“Oh, okay. I’ll give this to Robby to bring in tomorrow then,” you said, gesturing to the paperwork.
“Okay. I love you.” You blew him a kiss and he grabbed it from the air, dramatically slapping it against his chest.
“I love you too.”
-/-/-/-/-/-
Jack warned Robby that he wanted to talk, and Robby was waiting for him on the roof. Before you, it was where they saw each other most frequently.
“Have you noticed something off w-“
“It’s been the dishes! And the scrubs and the breakfast?” Jack continued Robby’s sentence.
“Do we ask for too much from her?” The sun had set and a chilly wind blew over the two men as they consulted their memories. They had never asked you to do any of the things you did around the house. It just started when you started sleeping over. You would throw in a load of laundry before you went back to your apartment, or would be making dinner before Jack left for work. In fact there had been numerous times even before you were living with them permanently that Robby had told you to not empty the dishwasher or quit folding the laundry and relax.
“We never really asked her to do any of it,” Jack surmised, looking over at Robby. His brown eyes were intent on Jack, growing sadder by the moment as realization swept over him.
“She’s getting ready to leave.” Jack frowned, the creases of his eyebrows shadowing his face.
“I don’t know. She’s been making plans out weeks in advance. She would probably be more avoidant than that if that was why.” Robby shrugged, looking out over the skyline. He could see the ridge where their house sat from the roof.
“I don’t know either. Maybe she’s just not telling us something that’s been going on.”
-/-/-/-/-/-
You noticed immediately on day six that both of your partners were more attentive, asked more questions, stayed up later spending time with you. Your heart sunk on day nine when Jack joked about Dana complaining that Robby fell asleep on his shift today. He had been up late watching tv with you.
You didn’t make it to two weeks. But really who could blame you. Both men were progressively more puppy dog eyed, asking what was wrong when you didn’t make nightly tea for you and Robby or walk down to the end of the short driveway to grab the mail. The final straw though, was Jack taking a day off to spend Saturday night with you and Robby. Jack taking a day off. Practically unheard of. He created jobs for himself just to get the energy out. And instead he begged Shen to take the spot of attending on a Saturday night (Jack’s self proclaimed favorite night to work) to stay home on the couch.
“I’m going to the gym for an hour? I’ll grab Robby on my way home,” Jack called out to the balcony where you had posted up for the day. You had one of his old fishing hats on to block the sun from your eyes and protect you from the UV and Jack could feel the butterflies in his stomach like he was a fucking teenager. You looked adorable when you looked up, nose scrunching as you pushed the hat from your eyes so you could look over at him.
“Wait, can you drop this off with Dana?” You slid a stack of papers into a Manila envelope.
“They needed to rearrange the street team schedule with Whittaker going home for the month and Ellis going to New York for the week,” you explained as Jack traversed the patio. He took it out of your hand and then leaned down to give you a long kiss.
“I love you,” and he hoped it sounded like he meant it as much as he did. You smiled up at him, soft smile on your lips.
“I love you more.” You squinted into the sun and Jack kissed your nose.
“I mean it, baby. I love you so much. And I know Robby does too. We want you to tell us if something is wrong and how we can fix it.” Your smile slipped a little bit.
“I know. I love you both. Now go work out! I’ll see you in an hour.” You heard Jack’s truck start up and knew he was going straight to the hospital to prepare his intervention with Robby. You jumped into action, pulling all the ingredients to your signature dish out and grabbing your favorite bottle of wine. You would need every second of their absence to prepare your apology.
-/-/-/-/-/-
“Ok, and we’re going to be direct,” Jack said again as they walked up to the door.
“Yes,” Robby said, rolling his eyes. They had repeated the same conversation three times before they got back to the house, and Robby unlocked the door, slinging his backpack onto the bench by the door and turning into the bedroom out of habit to change out of his scrubs. Jack was taking off his prosthetic when he started to smell what could only be the best meal you made for them on special occasions.
“Baby?”
“Hold on!” You called back from the kitchen. Robby poked his head out of the bedroom, hair mussed and shirt off.
“She laid out my clothes.” You’d stopped doing that too after your reunion weekend. They had suspected it had something to do with your friends being in town, but they liked your friends and you only talked about how great and not weird they were about your relationship. Jack frowned, grabbing his crutches and heading into the kitchen. You’d laid out dinner at the dining table, a glass of wine already poured for yourself and whiskey for the boys. You took a sip from the glass after setting down a covered platter and smiled at Jack.
“I see you didn’t go to the gym.” You just winked at him when he tried to explain.
“Just sit down.” He followed the order, watching you moving around the kitchen. It was peak summer with all the patio doors open and it was warm. You were dressed in linen shorts and a loose fitting tshirt that looked like it might have been an old band tee that you’d taken scissors to.
“Can I ask what the occasion is, at least?”
“No,” you scolded, coming back with a salad and settling into your seat, knees tucked up onto the chair. You had ordered new ones for the dining table not four months after moving in because you despised sitting with both feet on the ground and Robby had decorated the house for functionality and not comfort. They never actually sat at the dining table before you moved in.
Robby came out of the bedroom having taken a rinse, as was mandatory no matter what after a shift, and he had the good sense to not ask a question when he sat down. You gestured to the salad and they both served themselves before you started talking.
“I’m going to start with please don’t be mad at my friends, they were just looking out for me.” Jack chewed slowly, both of them watching you intently, but not starting to say anything yet.
“My friends were worried that you two were taking advantage of me. They didn’t want me to be stuck in a situation where you were making me do housework and stuff. I told them that wasn’t what was going on, but they were still worried so I told them I would just stop for two weeks and record the results.” Robby took a big gulp of his drink, putting his elbows gingerly on the table and then dropping his head into his hands.
“Honey, we thought you were going to leave us. Or something was so seriously wrong,” he groaned into his palms. Jack’s mouth had fallen open, half chewed falling back into his plate. You wrinkled your nose at the sight.
“Forgive me?” You asked, hiding behind your hands and peaking at their conferral through your fingers.
“Were your friends satisfied with the results?” Jack asked after the men stared silently at one another for a few seconds.
“Yes. They were disappointed I caved, but they allowed it.” Robby stood up, pulling out your chair and kneeling in front of you. He had lined you up so Jack was right behind him and you could see both of their watery eyes.
“Don’t ever do that again, sweetheart, and if your friends are that worried we will make time to see them next time they are in town so they know we aren’t trying to take advantage of you,” Robby said, squeezing your knee. Jack nodded along.
“And if you ever don’t want to do the house work or go to the store that’s okay. You don’t have to be worried a-“
“I wasn’t! I love taking care of you,” you whined, dropping your feet to the floor so Robby was between your knees. You squeezed him into a hug, tugging on the front of Jack’s shirt so he could join the embrace.
“It makes me feel useful and I love you both so much.” You closed your eyes, head snuggled into the crook of Jack’s neck, Robby’s head squished between your chests.
“Hey, kinda suffocating here. Not that this would be a bad place to die,” Robby said after a minute. You flicked his ear for the joke and then grabbed his face to kiss him. His fingers slid against your waist and sent shivers across your skin.
“I mean it,” you said, pulling away. Jack pressed a kiss to your forehead.
“I really do. I love taking care of you, and you don’t have to worry. I’m not upset that I have to do it. Ever.” You put out your hand to help Robby up, his knees cracking as he stood and then stretched, putting you face to face with the exposed skin between his shirt and his shorts. You pressed kiss to his belly and he jumped, moving back to his seat.
“Tell your friends to fuck off,” Jack suggested, opening up the covered dish and serving himself and then you. You took a sip of wine and a deep breath.
“You can make it up to us tonight,” Robby suggested, a quick squeeze to your knee.
“Oh you can definitely make up to us tonight,” Jack’s eyes were alight with mischief, “You can beg for your forgiveness.”
(My hc is that Jack would wait for Robby to make the first move, although he’s come to terms with his love for Robby for a while. Jack made up his mind long ago to hand the reins to Robby and let him initiate only when he feels ready so that Robby won’t run away afterwards 🥺)
—
Robby stays at Jack’s after being talked off the roof.
The look on Jack’s face was so genuinely worried and scared that Robby let himself be persuaded to stay the night. He walks out from Jack’s en-suite after showering only to find the night shift attending already asleep.
The only sound in the bedroom is Jack’s soft snore, accompanied by the faint tap of water droplets escaping from Robby’s damp head of hair and finding their way to the hardwood floor.
Robby stops by the threshold and leans against the wall, entranced by the closeness and intimacy of the view in front of him. Jack’s waist peeking out from under the covers. The gentle yet steady rise and fall of Jack’s chest and the shape of his muscles illuminated by the night light Jack left on for him.
Robby suddenly has an urge to trace his fingertips and map out the freckles on Jack’s exposed skin.
The thought surprised him.
Robby has yet to identify just how much love he has been holding for Jack, a love that until then has been compartmentalized into friendship and companionship.
But as he takes tentative steps towards the head of the bed, his gaze finds Jack’s lips and he cannot keep his eyes away.
The unguarded and tender side of Jack that Robby hardly ever has the chance to witness. And now in a dimly lit room, in the middle of the night, Robby finds himself being offered something he would never have dared to think about wanting.
He takes a deep breath in, exhales, the air coming out shaky.
Robby realizes two things at the same time.
His heart is beating incredibly fast.
And for some reason, Jack’s lips look awfully kissable.
—
He has no idea what to do with that information. Robby tries to press these feelings back into the seldom-visited side of his heart where they emerged from, but he can’t get them past the lump in his throat.
Robby considers leaving.
For a brief moment he seriously thought about it. And for the next few seconds he ruefully blames himself for even letting his mind get that far.
Robby stands there and remains incredibly still, holding himself with the resolve of a man believing that he could disappear into himself if he tried hard enough.
He pictures himself putting his clothes back on, reconstructing his armor piece by piece.
Choosing to run away seems so easy.
It won’t be his first rodeo.
Robby thought bitterly.
In fact, this was just going join his array of shy-of-seven-weeks things that he can avoid having to label.
This should be easy.
But his feet feel heavy somehow.
In the humming quietness that air carries in moonlit rooms, Robby studies the person in front of him.
Jack, close enough to be within his arms’ reach.
The thing is, he should have known that nothing is easy when it comes to Jack.
Jack has always mattered in the special way treasured moments in life demand more deliberate and responsible choices.
But as he blinks, and blinks again, all he can see are those tousled curls and slightly parted lips.
Jack’s curls.
Jack’s lips.
Unexpectedly, Robby’s heart feels terribly full. Something simultaneously calming and nerve-wrecking is threatening to burst out of his skin.
An overwhelming sensation that he can no longer pass as anything else.
His instinct tells him that he’s meant to do something.
And Robby doesn’t allow himself to turn away this time.
—
The bedsheet ruffles. Curls brush against the pillow as Jack turns and yawns.
Hazel eyes meets brown ones.
A small quirk appears on the lips Robby has been dedicating what seems like a lifetime staring at.
“Hey.” Jack coos.
Robby’s breath catches. He forgets how long he has been standing there, absorbing the shift of energy as Jack slowly wakes.
He looks so much younger when he sleeps.
Robby catches himself thinking.
So much softer, adorable even.
Robby licks his lips before he realizes, physical response getting ahead before he can implement any emotional control.
Jack’s smile visibly widens.
“Whatcha starin’ at?” Keeping his eyes on Robby’s, he shuffles closer to the edge of the bed, looking up.
With a mischievous grin turned slightly flirtatious, in a way only Jack can manage,
“See something you like?”
He bites his bottom lip before letting go, all in the split second between Robby’s heartbeats.
Robby’s heart seizes in response. His gaze darts between Jack’s eyes and his lips, each moment passing growing heavier, more tempting.
He could have sworn something is starting to take shape in his heart.
A shape that resembles the person who is currently inches away from him.
“Jack…” He manages.
“I know.”
Even in the most crucial moments, somehow, they can still communicate everything with just a few words.
The feeling of being understood this well by a person he cares for this much gives him strength.
Robby lunges forward, closing the gap before he starts to overthink.
As their lips meet, he feels a huff of breath against his own, followed by a fond chuckle.
“About damn time, Robinavich.”
Robby feels the shape of the words before hearing them, their mouths chasing each other’s, sharing a dance that comes naturally and instinctively.
And yeah, that confirms it.
Robby’s body says it before he could put it to words.
He blushes as the realization settles.
Love.
Jack’s nose nudges against Robby’s face, his teeth finds Robby’s lower lip and gives it a quick nibble. Teasing.
“Almost thought you’d never make the move, old man.”
robby’s on top obviously, he’s a little nervous as this is his first time with a guy so he doesn’t really know what to do…
jack on the other hand, this is not his first rodeo.
so he has his hands on robby’s hips gently guiding him, helping him roll his hips, smiling up at robby when he finally gets into the rhythm of it.
he leans up to place a soft kiss on robby’s lips, it doesn’t say soft for long and they end up making out right there on the couch as robby gently grinds against jack’s lap.
“fuck, feels so good. sure you haven’t done this before? you’re a natural.” jack smirks once he pulls away, robby’s cheeks turn a deep shade of pink as he shyly shakes his head.
“could’ve fooled me, handsome.” jack winks and robby has to fight the urge to cum right then and there in jack’s lap.
i cannot get rabbot out of my brain ughhh those cutie patooties 😵💫
want to be added to my robby taglist .ᐣ reply to this post ᝰ.ᐟ (taglist is tagged from another acc)
Can you write a rabbot x sick and anxious/hypochondriac reader?
Because I’m sick rn 💔
sorry this took me a little minute, also sorry you’re sick :( hope you feel better by now and if not hope this helps!
cw: x fem!reader, sick!reader, hypochondriac!reader
Jack and Robby are so sweet on you when you are unwell, tending to you and taking care of you. Especially during your panic attacks that it could possibly get worse. You often worry that the smallest little cold will devolve and that you’ll get more and more ill. Being doctors they are very good at getting through your spiraling thoughts with knowledge even if wikipedia is your best friend when you have a sickness.
Being on different shifts at work, means they take different shifts with getting you what you need and babying sick ole you. Robby makes sure you have taken your prescribed antibiotics and have dinner before you fall asleep curled into his side. Filling your water bottle and setting it on the bedside table so that it’s in reach for you. “Goodnight angel, i’ll probably be gone by the time you wake” he explains, petting the side of your head slowly lulling you to sleep. You let out a small whine at the idea of being without him, Robby is quick to reassure you. “Jack will be home shortly after princess, it’ll be alright” he chuckles softly and leans down to kiss your forehead softly. He uses the action of affection to gauge your temperature as well, testing if your fever has broken yet.
When Jack comes home he makes sure you have breakfast and meds before your morning or mid afternoon nap as well to ensure you are well rested and give yourself the time to heal your body. “You have more color baby, you feelin’ a little better sweetheart?” he coos as he rubs at your hip while you lounge against his side, a random movie playing on the tv.
The worst part of you being sick is with your hypochondriac tendencies you avoid kissing your boys on the lips, they hate not being able to kiss you when you’re ill. They understand it and they don’t exactly want to get ill either but they just love kissing on you.
They make up for it tenfold the second you are healthy.
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something about robby and abbot trying to keep their relationship under wraps hence why they work the opposite shifts.
they try to keep it a secret, just to avoid it getting messy. it’s not out of shame but it was robby’s insistence, wanting to remain professional. didn’t matter what people thought but jack would respect anything for robby.
so they kept it a secret.
and they do a damn great job at it. their work life balance was practically perfect, they were secretive but not invisible.
minimal interactions, comforting kisses by the railing when they saw each other in the mornings, leaving small gifts for each other.
when abbot came home, there was always something in the microwave that robby had made, whether that’s something that was meal prepped beforehand or a kraft mac and cheese.
it always left a smile on abbot’s face when he ate, always felt robby’s warmth and scent in the shared bed of their sheets.
and when abbot wakes up to robby’s kisses, a mumble of “‘m home, jack.”, when he pulls him into bed for the moment of peace and love, when robby lets out that sigh of relief and let his body relax.
abbot likes it this way, having robby all to himself in the privacy of their own home.
Dear Best Friend - jack abbot x michael robinavitch
Pairings: jack abbot x michael robinavitch (platonic)
Summary: Jack leaves Robby a letter to find while on his sabbatical.
Warnings: none really; slight angst, mentions of mental health, mentions of PTSD, platonic relationship, & medical inaccuracies.
Word Count: 1k+
Author’s Note: a short fic you all—not what I usually write, this just came to me randomly; so I figured why not !! i hope you all enjoy it !! <3
Jack stood in the empty staff room, jaw ticked a little to the side and tighter than usual. Robby’s open backpack sat on a chair in front of his locker. The white envelope in Jack’s hand suddenly felt very heavy.
A breath left his nose as he forced himself forward, heavy steps echoing against the linoleum floor. Jack ran a thumb over the envelope as he stared at it, looking it over one last time. Hesitation hit him suddenly—his mind racing of all the possible scenarios that could happen once Robby inevitably found what Jack was about to leave for him.
Jack forced himself out of his own head, sighing once before slipping the envelope carefully and quickly into Robby’s bag. It disappeared into the bottom of the backpack; sitting heavily in anticipation.
The door swung open behind him not a second later, Robby stepping in behind him. Jack almost jumped back, but forced himself to stay where he was—not wanting to bring any suspicion into the room. His fists opened and closed at his sides, brow furrowed slightly as Robby reached his bag.
He didn’t look in it, instead he shoved his hoodie inside, zipping the bag up and swinging it over his shoulder.
“You headed out?”, Jack asked.
Robby nodded; “Won’t ever leave if I don’t get going.”
Jack tilted his head just a fraction, looking over his friend with sincere eyes.
“You don’t have to do this, you know”, He offered, worry still pulling at his chest even after their talk earlier.
“I know”, Robby says; “But it feels like I do. Might be good for me.”
Jack couldn’t argue that a break would be good for any of them. Hell, he could probably use one himself. But he didn’t argue further—even if the idea of Robby out there in his own head for so long scared him far more than he wanted to admit.
Still he stepped forward, pulling Robby into another hug.
“You remember what I told you, if it gets dark or too hard—you call me. I don’t care what time. You call me”, Jack says, ducking his head a little to catch Robby’s eyes.
Robby sighs, shoulders relaxing a little as he offers Jack a small smile; “I will.”
The two words soothed something in Jack’s chest just a fraction.
Robby steps towards the door then, palm flat against the glass be fore he stops—looking back over his shoulder at Jack.
“Three months”, Robby says; “I’ll see you then, brother.”
Then he’s gone, stepping out of the staff room and leaving Jack in the silence he’d been standing in before. His chest still stung and felt tight, he still worried. But it wasn’t as strong now, knowing Robby had actually given him an answer this time.
Three months.
The time echoed in Jack’s head.
He could handle three months. Even if it would be the longest three months of his life.
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
A month and a half later, Robby found himself far out west—somewhere near Arizona. He’d been to Alberta, and found himself seeing what he wanted to see in Canada pretty quickly. He hadn’t expected to end up out west—it wasn’t in any of his plans. But something about it pulled him towards it.
The canyons and red rocks made for a peaceful and scenic drive. He’d never seen a cactus that had grown somewhere naturally in his life. He was checking things off of his bucket list he hadn’t even put on it before.
The warm hue of the bedside lamp shone through his hotel room where he sat now, reaching for his bag from the end of the bed. The room wasn’t big or glamorous; just cozy and big enough for him. A small tv sat on a dresser in front of the bed, it had a mini fridge and a nice shower. It was enough for a few nights.
Robby reached down into his bag, looking for the journal he knew he’d put in there earlier; when his fingers brushed something thin and papery.
He furrowed his brows, gripping the object between two of his fingers and pulling it out. The white envelope stared back at him, heavy and loud in his palm. ‘Robby’ was scribbled across the front in a handwriting that was all too familiar to the man.
With his heart beating faster in his chest, Robby carefully opened the envelope; pulling out the white paper inside. His breath hitching in his throat as he read the first line.
‘Dear Robby; I hope this letter finds you in a place that’s good. Somewhere you don’t feel heavy. The Pitt’s still going, your kiddos are doing just fine. We’re all managing. As I write this you haven’t left yet; but tomorrow evening you will. It scares me to death to think about you being gone so long, to be on your own. I know you’re strong enough, I know you can do it. But please, for the sake of your old best friend; do it safely.
Don’t worry about things here, don’t let your demons or the darkness control you. Let it in your heart, but overcome it. We all need you back in one piece. Safe. It won’t be easy with you gone, I’ll notice. Dana will notice. You keep everything straight on day shift.
You make me want to be better, you make me want to work on myself and not stay in the hole I created for myself so long ago. Doing this without you for the next three months will be one of the hardest things i’ve ever had to do. But i’ll do it; and I wish you were here to see me. I know that’s selfish and naive; but it’s true. You keep me grounded. It’s safer with you here. But I know you need this, I know it will be good for you. Enjoy it, let it overcome you—and when you’re ready; we’ll all be here waiting for you. I’ll be here. Stay safe, Michael. I’ll see you soon.
Love, Jack.
Ps: A new pizza place opened up downtown, I think you’d like it.’
Robby stared at the letter, eyes glossy and a smile on his face. Leave it to Jack to sneakily let all his feelings out, to comfort him when he needed it most. Robby felt himself laugh lightly at the last line, setting down the letter and reaching for his phone on the bedside table.
He fumbled with the screen a little, before clicking on the contact his thumb found like second nature. It rang twice before the call connected.
“Hey.”
─ ─── ─── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ─── ─── ─
Back in Pittsburgh, Jack rolled over in his bed; sleep clinging to him on a rare night off. The tv was still on in the background, offering noise instead of deafening silence. His phone buzzed on the nightstand next to him—his thumb swiping to answer in one quick movement. He didn’t need to fully look at the contact to know who it was.
“Hey”, Jack breathed.
“Hey”, Robby said back.
Jack felt his shoulders relax a fraction. It had been almost two months since he’d heard that voice; two months of wondering where Robby was and if he was ok. Wondering if he was safe.
“So new pizza place, huh?”, Robby asked.
Jack chuckled, the sound rumbling through the phone speaker; “You called me at midnight to talk about pizza?”
“Shit, I forgot it’s later there. Sorry”, Robby says; “Seemed like you were raving about it though.”
Jack shakes his head, even though Robby can’t see it.
“How’s the trip?”, He asks.
“Good”, Robby tells him; “I’m in Arizona…wasn’t on the list but, I’m glad I came.”
“Sounds like you’re having a good time”, Jack says softly.
Robby hums on the other end; “Better than I expected. I needed this more than I thought I did. Nature apparently does wonders.”
“Well I could’ve told you that”, Jack says.
He swears can hear the upturn of Robby’s lips.
“I’m ready to be back though”, Robby says.
“Yeah?”, Jack’s voice comes softly.
“Yeah”, Robby says; “Gets a little lonely out here sometimes...”
Jack shifts in his bed, rubbing at his sleep heavy eyes.
“Plus you guys will fall apart without me”, Robby jokes.
Jack laughs; “You need to come take your kids back, this whole working while the sun is up thing is really harshing my mellow.”
Robby’s chuckle comes through the speaker; “Gonna burn in the sun now, dracula?”
“I might”, Jack says.
The sound of a soft chuckle from both of them mixes together, Jack’s sigh sits heavy in his chest.
“I think you should take a trip too”, Robby finally says; “Might be good for you.”
Jack tsks once; “I think Dana would have my head if I left now.”
Robby tilts his head on the other end, balancing the phone against his shoulder as he holds the letter in his hand again.
“I’m not saying you have to leave the second I get back, just…something to think about”, Robby tells him.
Something in Jack’s chest twists at the sincerity in his friend’s voice.
“Ok”, Jack says; “I’ll give it some thought.”
Silence falls on both ends, Jack staring at whatever old rerun is playing on his tv—Robby staring at the letter in his hand.
“So Arizona, huh?”, Jack asks.
“Yeah, been here about a week. It’s nice.”
“I expect a grand canyon souvenir when you get back”, Jack says, smirk evident in his voice.
“Done deal”, Robby laughs.
Silence beats through again, Jack’s breath brushing against his phone.
“I should probably get going, got an early day tomorrow. Gonna start heading back”, Robby says.
Jack can’t help the twinge of excitement at the words.
“Yeah, I should probably get some sleep too”, Jack tells him, playing with the string on his pajama pants; “Got another shift tomorrow.”
“I’m uh, I’m gonna be upstate at the end of the month, found a nice little cabin by the lake”, Robby says; “If you wanna come join me for a weekend.”
“I’d like that”, Jack smiles.
“Oh, and Jack?”, Robby says.
Jack hums in response.
“Thanks for the letter.”
Jack feels resignation sit warmly in his chest, his lips twitching to the side; trying to hide his emotion even though nobody else is in the room.
“Anytime, brother”, Jack tells him.
A beat of silence goes by, only the sound of sheets rustling on the other end can be heard.
“Goodnight, Jack”, Robby finally says, though he doesn’t really want to hang up.
“Goodnight, Robby. I’m glad you’re safe.”
The line on the other end clicks off, leaving Jack alone in his tv lit room. But it doesn’t feel so lonely now. He doesn’t feel as anxious as he had the last two months. He feels…relief in knowing Robby is ok. Now looking forward to the end of the month and a much needed weekend away.
In Arizona—Robby lays in the hotel bed, staring up at the ceiling; Jack’s letter lying against his chest as he shakes his head softly. Thinking about what keychain from the gift shop Jack would like best. On both ends of the country, a feeling of relief and contentment washes over both attendings. Sleep comes easier and more restful than it had since the older man left for his trip. Robby happy he called; and Jack? Well he was already planning to call Robby the next day—and every day after that until they met again upstate.
